What is HMALS?

When you think of expeditionary airfield lighting systems, Avlite’s AV-HMALS® (High Mobility Airfield Lighting Systems) emerges as the ultimate solution in versatility and adaptability. Tailored to meet the diverse requirements of all military branches, this dependable and easy-to-use portable system is engineered for rapid deployment, reducing maintenance time to ensure your runway is mission-ready at all times.

This comprehensive turn-key solution comes equipped with all the necessary components for deploying airfield lighting and accessories, offering scalability for runways up to 10,000 feet. Whether transported within a roadworthy or high-density trailer, AV-HMALS® is designed for varying terrains and runway lengths making it ideal for expeditionary or sustained operations.

At the heart of AV-HMALS® lies its ability to enhance flexibility further. Often underestimated despite its fundamental significance, the power configuration is the cornerstone of system development.

What is the power configuration needed
to sustain your operational needs?

Improvements in Expeditionary Airfield Lighting

Throughout the decades of accumulating Expeditionary Airfield Lighting experience, Avlite delivered several unique systems tailored to user needs.

In the early systems, emphasis was placed on the mobility of the innovative solar airfield lighting components which primarily consisted of runway lighting. These systems required large military trailers, often dual-axle. The trailers either lacked efficient in-trailer charging or used inefficient power conversion methods to distribute power to storage locations. Updated systems have leveraged smaller, lightweight fixtures, and integrated inline AC, DC, or solar charging, enabling the use of more compact, lighter trailers, and simpler charging designs.

Differences Between Solar and Hybrid Configurations

Solar Configurations

Certain applications require only self-contained[1] solar operation, offering mobility for re-location and/or an economical storage and charging method. These portable solar airfield lighting systems, available in 5000 ft. and 10,000 ft. solutions, enable users to efficiently deploy the self-contained lighting systems for temporary, semi-permanent, or permanent setups, leveraging the trailer’s mobility for expedient installations. Installation time varies from minutes to mere hours depending on the length of the runway and mounting method. All trailer systems include portable mounting tiles and/or standard frangible mounts built into the trailer storage areas. Without the optional AC backup cables, the self-contained solar runway and taxiway lights are suitable for a wide range of environments or operational timelines.

Hybrid Configurations

Although expeditionary solar lighting is well-suited for nearly every environment or operational timeline, it does have limitations. In extremely cold environments below -32°C / -25.6°F, the batteries experience a reduced capacity affecting their autonomy[2] or runtime. As a result, the light fixtures will not meet operational requirements. If a CAT 1 approach is needed, it will run on solar for a short period of time. Cabling is then required for sustained operations.

Any solar or battery system relies on the inherent limitation of its energy storage device, namely the battery. The solar system must balance the autonomy required for battery storage with the weight and footprint of the system. To overcome this challenge, Avlite added the capability to charge the HMALS systems during deployment through integrated cabling and utilizing generator or mains power. The cabling sub-system ensures operation in temperatures as low as -40°C (-40°F) or colder, and facilitates limitless operational tempo.
The addition of cabling enabled a comprehensive range of products for a portable airfield lighting solution and supports more energy-demanding approach lighting sub-elements such as MALSR, SSEALS, and other approach lighting configurations. While Avlite has successfully deployed these high-performance systems in a variety of locations as a permanent application, the focus shifts for expeditionary use. The emphasis on portability necessitates smaller, more efficient solar systems, rather than autonomy. Unlike the runway and taxiway systems, which typically offer limitless autonomy, the approach systems allow operation without or with interrupted AC power for six to twelve hours. Therefore, to ensure uninterrupted operations, AC power through cabling is required.

Which System is Right for You?

Solar Systems

(Efficient Packaging with In-Trailer Charging, Built-in Control, 5,000 ft. Increments, No Cables)

The Solar System, packaged for either a 5,000 ft. or 10,000 ft. runway, is the simplest, most efficient system for non-precision (MIRL, TACAN, VORTAC, GPS or Localizer) emergency backup or expeditionary airfield operation for non-precision operations.

Systems typically include:

• 60 to 98 Runway Edge Lights
• 24 to 50 Taxiway or Landing Zone (LZ) Lights
• Windcone

Ready for nearly any environment, verified through solar calculations, a 5000 ft. runway equipped with Pilot Activated Control can be deployed in as little as 30 minutes. It can then operate continuously with minimal maintenance for 5-7 years before needing a battery replacement. Additional modular sub-systems, like best-in-class portable PAPIs, and other ancillary lighting can be added to either of these systems.

Hybrid System for 5,000 ft. Runways

(Efficient Packaging with In-Trailer Charging, Limited Taxiway, 5,000 ft. Increments, Cables for Deployed Backup Power)

Based on the Avlite Airfield Lighting System (ALS) design for the US Army MOTS mobile tower systems, this 5000 ft. scalable solution combines mobility and cabling for backup power in a highly mobile, two-trailer system. This setup allows un-cabled or limitless cabled operation depending on the operational environment or tempo and can be deployed in 4 hours.

With optional PAPI systems and standard features like Pilot Activated Control and/or other ancillary lighting,
AN/MSQ-135 integration, and 0086-LZ lighting, this hybrid solution stands out as the most economical and versatile system in the portfolio.

Hybrid System for 10,000 ft. Runways

(Efficient Packaging with In-Trailer Charging, Limited Taxiway, 5,000 ft. Increments, Cables for Deployed Backup Power, Plus Approach)

Similar to the Hybrid System for 5,000 ft. runways, this scalable solution is equipped with approach lighting systems including:

• MALSR and/or SSEALS Approach lighting
• PAPI
• Ancillary Lighting (Windcone, Signs, etc.)
• Battery Boxes
• External solar panels
• Upgraded monitoring and control systems

EALS-C

(7 or 8 High Density trailers for 10,000 ft runway, solar hybrid, in trailer charging, PLC, Signage, Windcone, MALSR, SSEALS, Runway, Taxiway, Obstruction, Ancillary Products)

The EALS-C is a 10,000 ft. solution offering the most complete, scalable expeditionary airfield lighting system complete with CAT 1 approaches and ground lighting. It is packaged in seven or eight high-density trailers, and the only configuration packaged for optimal storage that is compatible with a variety of containers and pallet systems for easy transport.

This setup allows un-cabled or limitless cabled operation depending on the operational environment or tempo. With a team of four crew members and a vehicle, this system takes 6 hours to fully deploy.

Flexible and Efficient Solution for Military Operations Worldwide

AV-HMALS® stands at the forefront of agile military airfield lighting solutions, offering unmatched flexibility and efficiency for military operations across the globe. Our custom systems empower customers to tailor solutions precisely to their exact specifications, ensuring optimal functionality.

By prioritizing the understanding of power requirements and backup solutions, we can design and develop turn-key expeditionary airfield lighting systems to facilitate rapid deployment, ease of use, and minimize downtime.

Globally trusted with variable configurations used worldwide, Avlite’s AV-HMALS® Hybrid and EALS-C configurations exemplify reliability and innovation in military lighting technology and are backed by the US Air Force, Army, and National Guard.

Questions? Contact us!

[1] “Self-contained solar” is defined as lights that have their power and operational control built in and do not require any cabling; this is a standard definition within the Aids to Navigation marketplace

[2] “Autonomy” is defined as the length of time (usually hours or number of nights) that a solar system can operation without recharge.